“Unfortunately, your Duolingo English Test could not be certified for the following reason…”
This is the nightmare of all test-takers, and many of them wonder:
What should you do now? Can You retake the Duolingo English Test (DET) for free?
If you’re also in the same boat, don’t fret!
LUME is here to clear up this confusion and help you understand the Duolingo English Test (DET) rules more.
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Yes, you can retake the Duolingo English Test (DET) for free in some cases.
But before diving into these cases, you must understand what test credits are.
Whenever you buy a Duolingo English Test (DET), you will receive one test credit.
Each credit is equivalent to three attempts to take the test, but there will be only one certified result.

There are two situations when you can retake the Duolingo English Test (DET) for free:
As explained above, each test credit gives candidates three chances.
So, if your result is uncertified in the first or second try, you still have 1-2 attempts left.
Besides, there are cases when Duolingo doesn’t give you a free retake:
The only way to retake the test is to purchase a new one.
If you believe there was a misunderstanding, send Duolingo an appeal within 72 hours.
Even when you have one remaining try, you can’t take it.
In this case, you have to make an appeal to Duolingo. Or, you need to buy a new test.
This results from severe rule violations, like having someone else take the test for you.
If your account is blocked permanently, you can’t retake the test.

Duolingo doesn’t set a specific limit on how many times a candidate can take the test.
For each credit you buy, you have 3 times to take the exam.
It means you will have two retakes if the first try was not certified or there was a technical glitch.
After you finish each test, you have to wait for the result before retaking it.
The waiting time is usually within 48 hours.
But it only takes 12 hours if you register for faster results ($39 fee).
That said, it doesn’t mean you can save up as many tests as you like.
It’s because Duolingo only lets you buy three tests in a 30-day period.
LUME will explain this more in the next part!
Each test-taker is allowed to purchase three tests in a month (30 days).
Don’t mistake that you can only take the test three times!
Three purchases are equivalent to three test credits.
Therefore, the maximum number of tests you can take in a month is nine times (retakes included).
Remember that once you pay for the test credit, you must sit for the exam within 21 days.
After this time, the credit will expire, and you have to purchase a new test.
Can you retake the Duolingo English Test (DET) for free?
Yes, but only in case of a technical error or a minor rule violation that leads to an uncertified result.
Other than that, you have to buy new tests.
Remember that you can only purchase three test credits in a month!
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Want to ACE the Duolingo English Test (DET) And Reach Your Goals? Get Your FREE Lume Account Today to Unlock… ✅ 10,000+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS with detailed answers ✅ FREE MOCK TESTS with fast & accurate AI scoring ✅ Get BETTER SCORES with a PERSONALIZED study plan (Limited seats available!) |
Lume Test
Editor
Lume Test is a leading platform offering practice questions and mock tests for major English exams like PTE, IELTS, TOEIC, Duolingo English Test, and more. We provide up-to-date, comprehensive materials designed to help learners improve their language skills and achieve high scores. With expert-crafted tests that closely mirror real exam formats, Lume Test ensures you're fully prepared for success. Your goals are our mission!